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The German Football Association (DFB) is set to review a new disciplinary rule after the 2026 World Cup that could have direct implications for Liverpool players competing in UEFA the Premier Legue in the future.
It was reported this week that FIFA rule changes would allow referees to show a red card to players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents or officials.
The measure originates from changes approved by football’s law‑making body IFAB for use at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The intention is to clamp down on discriminatory and abusive language that is harder to detect when players deliberately shield what they are saying with their hands. Under the World Cup protocol, covering the mouth in the course of an aggressive or heated exchange could be deemed a red‑card offence.
According to reports in Germany, the DFB will not automatically copy the World Cup regulations into its own domestic competitions but instead will evaluate them after the tournament. Alex Feuerherdt, spokesperson for the DFB’s refereeing body, has indicated that a decision on whether to implement the rule in German football will be taken at a later stage:
“Whether the regulation will also be applied in Germany after the World Cup will be decided at a later date,” said Feuerherdt to the German Press Agency.
The bigger question on Merseyside, however, is whether English football’s authorities might ultimately choose to align with IFAB’s direction of travel if leading federations like the DFB sign up.
If one of Europe’s major leagues does eventually take the step, it would add weight to calls for a harmonised approach across UEFA and domestic competitions – including the Premier League.
Any Premier League adoption would force Liverpool’s squad – and their opponents – to rethink long‑established habits when speaking to rivals and referees, with a simple hand‑over‑mouth gesture potentially carrying the risk of an early walk down the tunnel.
It comes after FIFA have already proposed a rule change that would require Premier League sides to field at least one U21 player on the pitch at all times.